Thursday, December 22, 2011

Jo-Ann Evans headed up the committee to create our donation quilt. She adapted the design idea from a Stained Glass Flower Garden quilt by Brenda Henning of Bear Paw Productions, and Brenda gave permission to use this as a starting point. Many of our members make beautiful designs on their embroidery machines, and Jo-Ann requested embroidered blocks of any size depicting "life on our planet," the stated theme of our 2012 show. Other members took home kits of batiks and made pinwheel, star, and flying geese blocks. When all the embroidered and pieced blocks were turned in, Jo-Ann assembled them to create this 84" x 84" quilt. It will be longarm machine quilted by our member Susie Jackson.
The guild voted to name the quilt "Life On Our Planet," duplicating the show theme.

It was a good year for quilting; looking back on 2011, we donated a total of 269 children's quilts, 41 stockings, 87 fleece blankets (for Honduras mission trip). Outgoing officers Shirley Wiltshire, Frances Good, Linda Lowe, and Sharon Barnes led us through interesting programs, workshops, and activities.

We surprised Shirley with a quilt (after letting her open a large box and finding it full of fabric scraps). She loves to collect scraps so much that she was actually pleased with her "first gift."

New officers for the two-year term of 2012-2013 have been elected. They are:

At our December 21 meeting (and delicious lunch buffet), we were pleased to have guests to receive our gifts. We placed 113 quilts with seven agencies. We also gave 41 stockings and a table covered with children's and mothers' gifts to Domestic Abuse Family Shelter. Quilts were also delivered to Wesley Medical Center.

Marilyn Howell and Becky Sims are always happy to have stockings and gifts to use for the shelters in Hattiesburg and Laurel.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

We have been making and stuffing pillows to be given to children who are taken to the hospital. This is a traumatic time for any child, and PBQ members are happy to offer some comfort with these pillows. Recently we were notified by Joan Stevens, Coordinator of Volunteer and Guest Services at Forrest General, that since June of 2009 FGH had received 1,150 pillows. These are given to children in the ER and on the pediatric unit. In addition to the pillows placed at FGH, we have also supplied Wesley Medical Center with pillows but do not have an accurate count.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

James Robinson, SOS Support Coordinator, Army Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) Program, has presented three of the quilts we donated this summer to mothers of fallen soldiers.

Mrs. Jane Green, Gautier, honoring her son MAJ Michael L. Green, who was killed in 2008 in Afghanistan.

Mrs. Dianne Newman, Waynesboro, honoring her son SGT Melvin L. Henley, who died in Iraq in 2007.

Mrs. Nadine Henley, Jackson, honoring her son SPC Melvin L. Henley, who died in Iraq in 2007.

A certificate was presented with each quilt, reading:
We are proud to present quilts to the families of
Fallen Soldiers who have given their life in service to
our country. These quilts are made with love and
compassion and are our way of saying thank you for
your dedication and sacrifice to keep our country free.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Pine
Belt Quilters were treated to a delightful trunk show by guest fiber artist
Gail Bachorik at our November meeting. Gail lives in Milton, FL, where she
creates her original designs. Her
favorite subjects are flowers but she also often includes fish, lizards,
squirrels and butterflies in her realistic works. She usually works from her own photos to
arrive at her design. Sometimes she manipulates the pictures to create a more
abstract piece. She meticulously gathers her fabric to achieve the exact colors
she wants and might use up to fifty different fabrics and a hundred thread colors in
a piece. She constructs her works by machine using raw-edge appliqué,
thread-painting, and free-motion quilting.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Pine Belt Quilter Betty Tudor was the guest of Azalea City Quilters Guild on November 8. Betty went to present a trunk show of her masterpiece quilts, and five other PBQ members went along to enjoy and help out. After seeing pictures on the PBQ blog about Betty's program earlier this year, the Mobile quilters invited her to bring her quilts to show their guild. Betty is known for her flawless applique and her hand quilting, but she is versatile in her techniques and subjects for her creations.

Helping hold quilts is Ella Lucas (left of quilt) and Pat Faulkender (center); looking on is Lynn Gregor, Azalea City program chair. Betty says her favorite color is purple.

Betty made a series of hexagon quilts using the English paper piecing method. She designed this quilt to show her house and grounds in hexagons.

Mobile quilters were interested in seeing the quilts up close and asking questions. Betty quilted all of the large applique quilts by hand while sitting up in bed at night, using a round wooden hoop . She began machine quilting some of her later small pieces.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

The Challenge theme for our October 5-6-7, 2012, show is
"Find Your True South," which is the new Mississippi brand initiative
recently announced by the Mississippi Development Authority Tourism Division. VisitHattiesburg, our local visitors bureau,
has again generously sponsored a challenge purchase award for a 24" x
24" wall quilt featuring the theme "Find Your True South." VisitHattiesburg sponsored the "Miss Hattie" challenge at the 2008 show and the
"Hattiesburg Train Depot" and "USM" challenges at the 2010
show.

“‘Find Your True South’ is more than a catchy phrase or
slogan. It truly encompasses the essence of Mississippi and how the world views
us,” said Mary Beth Wilkerson, MDA Tourism director. “The new brand is result
of nearly a year of careful, methodical research and planning that included
Mississippi residents and stakeholders, consumers including visitors and
tourism professionals, and our competitors. Ultimately, Mississippi was
identified as THE most Southern state.”

"The 'Find Your True South' brand invites visitors to
experience and discover their own Mississippi. Mississippi is an authentic
place offering a rich tourist experience. The state’s history, heritage and
outdoor opportunities are second to none. Mississippi is the birthplace of
America’s music and the heart of Southern literature; Southern culinary
experiences point right to the Mississippi table. Mississippi is synonymous
with Southern culture, and we rise to the top for gaming with a Southern
flair." (quoting) State of Mississippi Announces New Tourism Branding Initiative, www.visitmississippi.org

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Our October program featured a variety of ways to make flying geese. Mary Nell Magee told us about the interesting history of this pattern and how it was a depiction of flocks of geese migrating. She said most pioneer settlers traveling west brought a quilt with them using this design.

This popular pattern was made with a cardboard or plastic triangular template for many years; now there are rulers and tools that can make the task of cutting and piecing the units much more accurate as well as faster. She showed rulers by Marti Michell, Fons and Porter, Eleanor Burns, Lazy Girl Designs, and products for foundation piecing called Flying Geese on a Roll.

Shirley Wiltshire demonstrated other ways to make the flying geese units, with the help of posters prepared by Elvia Edwards.

In addition to using flying geese in straight lines (for example, in a border or as the main feature of a strippy quilt), flying geese can be made in curving lines or circles.

Martha Ginn showed how to draw flying geese pathways by using a Flexible Curve (a rubber strip with a lead center to cause it to hold its shape). This tool can be shaped as desired and traced onto a foundation, adding divisions and a "target" for the points of the geese. This target can be a center line or it can flow from nearer one side to the other, as shown in the design on the left.

Polly Duggan used a circle of flying geese as the finish to her 2005 Challenge Piece at Quilters By Heart's Desire.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

We meet at University Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, MS. Every year a group from the church sends a team to Honduras with the Baptist Medical and Dental Mission International. We were asked to send some blankets or quilts to be given to the families after the workers reported from last year: The people came into the clinic, and the mothers would say, "Baby cold."

We decided we could furnish more by sending 2-yard serged fleece blankets, and our members have generously donated 87 for the mission team to give. The team has to ship supplies and equipment in October to have them there for use in January. In previous years we have helped with fleece and by sharing fabric which was used to teach the children the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Elvia Edwards presented the September program for Pine Belt Quilters on Binding Techniques. She had prepared posters of binding widths and how to determine what width to cut your strips. She discussed looking at your quilt to decide what will best enhance the overall look when it is finished. In addition to the traditional double-fold (either bias or straight) binding, she called on other members to tell of other ways to finish the quilt. Ella Lucas showed a scallop-edge quilt which would require a single bias binding instead of double-fold. She also showed a table runner with prairie points on the edge. Doris Aultman showed how to make a two-color binding so that one color matches the front and one color matches the back of the quilt, quite an elegant finish to her prize-winning hand quilted whole cloth quilt. Martha Ginn showed quilts finished with an inserted piping, back facing, ribbon instead of binding strips, and rat-tail cording finishing the edges. Mary Nell Magee demonstrated Deb Karasik's method of using Elmer's washable glue and the iron to hold the facing in place before sewing in order to get a very precise edge finish.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Congratulations to Gloria Green, Ellen Hall, and Susie Jackson for winning ribbons at the Greater Jackson Quilt Celebration 2011. Gloria's "Blocks and Cubes" won a blue ribbon and her "Spring Flowers" received a red. Ellen entered and won a red ribbon on her "Wish I May, Wish I Might." Susie Jackson won a yellow ribbon AND Best Machine Quilting award for her whole cloth quilt "Heirloom Feathers."

Blocks and Cubes by Gloria Green(photographed in progress)

Spring Flowers by Gloria Green

Wish I May, Wish I Might by EllenHall

Heirloom Feathers by Susie Jackson

Three other Pine Belt Quilters entered works in the show--Martha Ginn, Rosalie Schoell, and Doris Dunn. The show was held at the Mississippi Craft Center in Ridgeland.

Monday, August 22, 2011

The Show committee has firmed up the category list for our 2012 show. This will be posted on our website soon, but for now, here are the categories. A few general guidelines are:
Minimum size on any side = 8"
Maximum size on any side = 115"
Limit of two entries per category per person, with total of eight entries
Youth division has been divided into two age groups. The youth do not have to quilt their entry; the quilts will be judged on the TOP only.
Categories
Pine Belt Quilters Fiber Art & Quilt Show
Web site: www.pinebeltquilters.com
Lake Terrace Convention Center - Hattiesburg, Mississippi
October 5-6-7, 2012
Category Abbreviation Size Requirement #of Makers
Appliqué Large AL 70" or larger Individual
Appliqué Small AS 69" or less Individual
Mixed Large ML 70" or larger Individual
Mixed Small MS 69" or less Individual
Pieced Large PL 70" or larger Individual
Pieced Small PS 69" or less Individual
Appliqué Team AT Any size 2 persons
Mixed Team MT Any size 2 persons
Pieced Team Large PTL 70" or larger 2 persons
Pieced Team Small PTS 69" or less 2 persons
Theme Large
("Life on Our Planet") THML 70" or larger Individual/Team
Theme Small
("Life on Our Planet") THMS 69" or less Individual/Team
Machine Embroidery ME Any size Individual/Team
Whole Cloth/Stitchery/Other WC/S/O Any size Individual/Team
Friendship FR Any size 3 or more
Art – Original design ART Any size Individual
Pictorial PIC Any size Individual
Miniatures – Small scale MN Max. size 24" Individual
Wearables W Garment Individual
Youth* – Ages 10 & under Y/10 Any size Individual/Team
Youth* – Ages 11-15 Y/11-15 Any size Individual/Team
NOTES: Two (2) entries per person per category; maximum of 8 entries per person.
Entry Size Limitations: No smaller than 8" on any side; No larger than 115" on any side.
*Quilt top only will be judged.

It's not too early to begin to think about what we will enter in the 2012 quilt show. Our program at the August meeting featured the judging sheet with discussion and explanation of what each part of the form meant. Martha Ginn described what creates good visual impact. Ella Lucas discussed the quilting design and how to determine what was enough and appropriate for the piece. Ellen Hall talked about the importance of good, solid construction. Susie Jackson gave pointers on what is necessary for the quilter to furnish to the longarm quilter.

Claire Clinkscales

The church secretary where we meet, Claire Clinkscales, recently welcomed a new baby grandson. To show our appreciation for all Claire does for PBQ, we presented her with one of our children's quilts. She was ecstatic!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Betty and Joe Bingham have been on another pillow-making marathon. They completed 100 and bagged them up and delivered to Forrest General Hospital. Betty said this brings their total to 250 that they have made.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Hattiesburg hosted the third location of the 2011 MQA Educational Seminar with Deb Karasik teaching her paper piecing techniques. Deb is from San Francisco, California, and is the author (with Janet Mednick) of Quilt Mavens Perfect Paper Piecing and of Quilts with Attitude, both published by AQS.

Deb's quilts and patterns feature sharp points and spikes, and she stressed the importance of not cutting off those points when joining to the next piece. She showed tips on getting smooth curves without cutting off points. She had perfected her binding methods by incorporating Sharon Schamber's glue technique, and she demonstrated this for the students.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Two Pine Belt Quilter members had their entries selected to be part of the 2011 Hoffman Challenge traveling exhibits. Joe Bingham and Betty Bingham have been busy making pillows with their granddaughters but took time to create quilts for the Hoffman Challenge.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

In addition to our presentation of the quilts to the military guests at our July meeting, Jo-Ann Evans gave a brief demonstration of the "twisted tree technique" and showed examples of this to create trees, coral, or other natural objects. She will lead next week's workshop to teach how to make these. She created an underwater scene with coral and seaweed, shown below:Julie Radavich's granddaughter, Morgan Radavich, attended Mary Nell Magee's quilt camp and proudly displays the quilt she made.

Our July luncheon meeting was especially meaningful with the presence of a group of soldiers and support teams. Our guests explained their service and how they were helping returning wounded soldiers make the necessary adjustment to being back at home. They also assist families in any way while the soldiers are deployed or if a family loses a soldier in conflict. We presented 92 quilts to be given to children whose parent(s) are deployed and to families of fallen soldiers or wounded soldiers.

We had our parade of quilts which members had made for our ongoing Children's Quilt Project. Many of our quilters attend the Children's Quilt monthly meetings, but all members are encouraged to contribute at least one quilt per year. Winners of the viewers' choice voting were Geraldine Simmons (1st), Betty Tudor (2nd). Elaine Magee's name was drawn for the participation award.We drew for the Blueberry Quilt, a fund raiser for our supplies for children's quilts. We had been selling tickets for a couple of months and continued at this meeting. Several of the military personnel bought tickets, and to the delight of all present, one of the soldiers was the lucky winner!

Sally Henderson with the Blueberry Quilt

1st Sgt. Greg Money, one happy soldier!

We were presented with two plaques to thank us for the care and encouragement of our troops through the gifts of the quilts. The plaques are from the 106th Brigade Support Battalion and the 155th Brigade Combat Team. Shirley Wiltshire accepted the plaques for the quilt guild.

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Welcome to Pine Belt Quilters

Pine Belt Quilters meetings are at 9:30 AM the 3rd Wednesday of every month at University Baptist Church, 3200 W. Arlington Loop, Hattiesburg, MS. In addition, there are three activity group meetings per month.